Polish pensioners have problems accessing health care. Some people cannot afford to buy drugs, others use them too often.

The coalition conducted a study on the situation of older people, focusing on their health status. The fact that the difficult economic situation affects the situation of older people, said 98 respondents. More than 80 percent of people admitted that too high prescription drug prices are a major problem for older people, almost 70 percent. - waiting time for a doctor’s appointment, and 65% of the waiting time for medical services prescribed by a doctor.

- Elderly people save: mainly on food and medicines, which can have a very negative impact on their health. Only 25 percent of older people can expect to see a general practitioner during the night, 57 percent. have to wait up to 7 days and 10 percent. up to two weeks. This is too long, and in the case of a visit to a specialist, the data looks even worse: almost 40 percent. pensioners wait up to six months, 30 percent. up to a year and 10 percent. more than a year.

In some regions of Poland, the average waiting time for long-term care is even 8 months. She has been waiting for a shelter for about a year, and this is more than 90 percent. people complain about waiting too long for rehabilitation services. A patient who has just been discharged from the hospital and often needs care, rehabilitation or inpatient care should generally be in the care of the same family, emphasizes Magdalena Osinska-Kurzyvalk, president of the Coalition Help for Addicts.

The postulate of a drug list of 70+ instead of 75+…

More than 50 organizations have signed a call to make the list of free drugs for the elderly accessible to people over 70. – Of course, there can be no situation when an elderly person has to choose between buying groceries and buying the medicines he needs. It is unthinkable for him to face a dilemma: buy medicines, food or pay the rent. On March 27, the Council of the Patients’ Organization under the Commissioner for Patients’ Rights appealed to the Ministry of Health with a request to expand access to free medicines for the elderly. I know that now these issues are being worked out in the ministry.

The Patient Ombudsman believes that the age criterion should be changed in favor of patients, but a preliminary cost analysis is needed. We will definitely ask the Ministry of Health about this,” Grzegorz Blazewicz, Deputy Ombudsman for Patients’ Rights, commented on the results of the study during the “Care for the Polish Elderly” debate on the occasion of the National Day for the Care of the Elderly.

The problem that some elderly people leave the pharmacy window empty-handed is also noticed by pharmacists. – Of course, it is necessary to increase the number of free medicines for the elderly, this should also be done systematically so that free medicines are available to people over 70 years old, emphasizes Elżbieta Piotrowska-Rutkowska, President of the Supreme Chamber of Pharmacy. This problem is also noticed by the parliamentary committee on health. – This issue is now at the stage of consultations with the Ministry of Health, I know that both patient organizations and pharmacists reacted very positively to it, but it is known that drug prices should be agreed with pharmaceutical companies, compromises should be worked out in order to make the right decisions. solutions and really help the elderly, - said the deputy Barbara Dzyuk.

… and drug reviews for the elderly

Most older people suffer from multiple illnesses, often see multiple doctors, and take multiple medications, which can cause a range of interactions and side effects. This is why it would be so important for these patients to have pharmacist-led drug reviews and collaboration between pharmacists and general practitioners. – Patients included in the pilot drug reviews took an average of 16 drugs per day; managed to reduce this number, it is safe for their health. Pharmacists have produced guidelines for family physicians and in many cases partnerships have been established between pharmacists and general practitioners. We hope drug reviews are included as a guaranteed benefit. Since 2019, a point of the Gerontological Society has been operating in Poznań, where such a review can be carried out. Starting this year, pharmacists will also conduct drug examinations of patients in nursing homes, - said prof. Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis, geriatrician, President of the Polish Gerontological Society.

Another big problem is that patients often stop taking their medications and take supplements.

- Many patients do not distinguish between dietary supplements and medicines, they need to be educated. We also often deal with the abuse of drugs, often the same but with different trade names. If every physician in charge had access to a patient’s PPI, they would know which medications they are taking. We will not deal with dangerous polypharmacy, and at the same time, older people will not buy medicines unnecessarily, said Elżbieta Piotrowska-Rutkowska.

Eliminate the exception

Participants of the debate noted that the group of pensioners is currently very diverse. Some of them, more educated, younger, in good health, are socially and often professionally active. Activation of pensioners in community centers, universities of the third age, as well as activation at home works very well, which helps a lot in improving health. In the most difficult situation are elderly people living alone, at worst, with polymorbidity. neurological problems or, for example, hearing loss, often “sentenced” to neighborhood or institutional care. Elderly people living in nursing homes are also in a difficult situation.

“Some of them have problems with telephone contact and lack digital access, especially these older people need help when it comes to contacts with healthcare. In the institution where they work, several times it turned out that the patient’s condition deteriorated sharply, as it turned out that he did not take medicine, he simply did not buy them, - said Agnieszka Savka, director of the Day Care Center for the Elderly in Minsk Mazowiecki.

The participants of the discussion agreed that the policy of the older generation should be improved. One of the most important postulates is the creation of coordinated care for elderly patients (optimally, such a team should include a geriatrician, as well as a nutritionist, a physiotherapist and a pharmacist), the creation of 75 plus centers, improving access to long-term nursing care. and support for older people most in need by health workers. It will also be necessary to revise medicines for the elderly and expand the list of free medicines, both by adding new items and expanding the age criterion. There was also an idea to create a “health passport for an elderly person”. The problem will be exacerbated by an aging population.